How It Works

The Ball Lock® Mounting System provides a method of quickly and accurately locating fixtures onto machine tables. The Ball Lock® Mounting System has done for machining centers what the Japanese SMED concept did for presses. Instead of single minute exchange of dies, Ball Lock® provides single minute exchange of fixtures. Fixtures can often be exchanged in less than a minute and with position repeatability of +/-0.0005” (+/-0.013mm). Fixtures can be exchanged between different machines when both are using the Jergens Ball Lock® Mounting System.

Locate & Lock!The Ball Lock® Mounting System is designed to speed the accurate locating and locking of fixture plates to subplates.

Locate…Often Without Indicating!

The Ball Lock® System accurately positions your fixture plate with a repeatability of +/-0.0005” (+/-0.013mm) or better, minimizing the need to indicate your fixture.

Lock

The Ball Lock® System securely holds fixture plates to subplates with up to 20,000 lbs. (9000 kg.) of hold-down force per shank.

All You Need are 3 Basic Component Parts.

The Ball Lock® System consists of 3 basic parts:

5 Steps: Using Ball Lock® couldn’t be simpler.

Complete The Install...

Additional Ball Lock® Shanks are inserted through clearance holes in the fixture plate and set screws tightened for additional holding force distributed across the fixture plate.

Ball Lock™ Mounting Exploded View

Ball Lock™ Shank Cutaway

Ball Lock® VisesBall Lock® Vises are designed specifically for use with the Jergens Ball Lock® Mounting System, with their jigsaw pattern allowing for “nesting” directly on Jergens Ball Lock® subplates.

Ball Lock™ Vises Exploded View

Mounting MethodsIt is recommended that the use of the Ball Lock® Mounting System for locating and clamping of fixture plates be incorporated in a systematic process. All fixture plates should have two locating points positioned as far apart as possible. There is no advantage to having more than two locating points. If more than two flanged shanks are required to provide additional hold down force, omit liner bushings in the additional holes in the fixture plate and allow 0.030” (0.76mm) over the nominal size. The additional clearance will insure that these holes have no influence on the locating holes.

Ball Lock™ Mounting Method With Face And Back Mount Bushing

Ball Lock™ Mounting Method With Face And Back Mount Bushing

How accurate should positioning be? The center distance of the receiver bushings in the machine table, tombstone or subplate should be as accurate as possible, +0.0002” (+0.005mm) recommended. Accurate location will assure interchangeability of numerous fixture plates. For accurate repeatability within +/-0.0005” (+/-0.013mm) of true position, both liner bushings in the fixture plate should be primary liners and the center distance tolerance should be +0.0002” (+0.005mm). For a slightly looser fit, repeatability within +/-0.0015” (+/-0.04mm) of true position, use one primary and one secondary liner with a center distance tolerance of +0.001” (+/-0.003mm).